Use of the Theodolite

Care of the Instrument

The Theodolite is a precision scientific instrument. It is fairly robust, but care should
be taken to avoid harsh treatment. There are several moving parts and it is quite
heavy, so it is easy to inadvertently drop it when removing it from its case.
It is designed to be used in all weathers, but if it gets wet it should be dried out at the
earliest opportunity (best by leaving in a warm room). The case lining also holds
water, so dont forget to dry the case as well.
lease remember to unlock a clamp before you try to rotate it.
The Controls
The theodolites controls are labelled ! to I and are as follows
A ,B,Cthree levelling screws.
D lower hori"ontal clamp (outer ring) and fine ad#uster (inner). $sed to align on
the reference north.
E upper hori"ontal clamp and fine ad#uster. $sed to align on the ob#ect to be
measured.
F vertical sighting to align the theodolite over a set point on the ground.
G vertical clamp and fine ad#uster. $sed when measuring vertical angles.
H mirror. %upplies a source of light to the internal scales.
I minutes and seconds ad#uster. $sed to align the degree scale so angles to a
resolution of minutes and seconds of arc can be made
$pper rough sight
I minutes and seconds ad#uster
%mall eyepiece (scales)
&ain eyepiece (viewing)
' vertical clamp and fine ad#uster
The mirror light source for the scale can be
seen on the left of the picture
(ori"ontal bubble )*ine ad#ustment+
, upper hori"ontal clamp and fine ad#uster
- lower hori"ontal clamp and fine ad#uster
.ircular spirit level )/ough ad#ustment+
! levelling screw
In addition, the telescope has upper and lower rough sights and a small eyepiece on
the right to view the scales.
Setting up the Theodolite.
The Theodolite is mounted on a tripod. *irst, e0tend the tripod legs, splay them fully
and push the ends firmly into the ground. 1e0t look at the Theodolite mounting
platform. This should be reasonably level and not too high nor too low for the users.
!d#ust the leg lengths until it is right then screw the theodolite onto the platform.
2ou may wish to set the theodolite up over a reference point on the ground. In this
case, you can use the sight (*) on the front of the instrument to view the point and
ad#ust the theodolites position by slightly unscrewing the mounting screw and
moving the theodolite sideways. !lternatively, you can ask a helper to push a nail or
peg into the ground under your guidance to fi0 a new reference point.
Levelling the Theodolite.
There are 3 levelling screws (labelled !, 4 and .) at the base of the instrument.
These should be used with the round spirit level to obtain a coarse ad#ustment. 5hen
this is done, line the long spirit level with 6 of the levelling screws and make the first
fine ad#ustment. Then turn the theodolite through 78 degrees so the long spirit level is
pointing at the 3
rd
levelling screw and ad#ust that until it is level. /echeck the fine
ad#ustment if necessary. If there is not enough ad#ustment in the levelling screws,
then the theodolite table is not level enough and you will have to ad#ust the leg heights
until it is.
This method for levelling also applies to the ,-&.
Zero the scales
/elease clamps - and ,. !lign the red mark on the upper part of the theodolite with
the white mark on the black ring and lock the upper hori"ontal clamp (,). This
roughly sets the theodolite optics to "ero on the hori"ontal scale.
9pen the mirror (() and ad#ust until you see a bright patch of light falling on the
window underneath it. 1ow if you look through the small eyepiece, you will see
some illuminated scales.
A view through the small eyepiece shows the vertical and hori"ontal degree scales
and the minutes and seconds scale.
:
((
!d#ust the fine ad#uster (I) so the mark in the right hand scale is aligned with 888;.
$sing the fine ad#uster on the upper hori"ontal clamp (,) ad#ust the 8 so the single
vertical line which moves with it on the bottom scale is between the double vertical
lines (as above) as near central as possible. 1ow clamp (,). &ovement now on the
bottom plate will move the whole instrument without changing the reading. *rom
now on clamp (-), rotate by loosening (,) and read the change.
This completes the hori"ontal "ero ad#ustment. There is no ad#ustment for vertical
angles. That is done internally and is correct if the theodolite is properly levelled
Align on a reference North
!ll your theodolite measurements are made relative to a reference baseline, which by
definition is oriented at 8 degrees. This does not need to be true north, but could be a
line to a convenient feature such as a chimneystack or telegraph pole. 5ith the upper
hori"ontal clamp (,) still on, rotate the theodolite until the arrow in the upper or lower
rough sight is in line with the selected feature. 'ently lock the lower hori"ontal clamp
(-) and, looking through the main eyepiece (you may need to focus it) use the lower
hori"ontal clamp fine ad#uster to line the vertical lines on the feature.
9nce this is done, the theodolite is set to "ero on the reference line and the lower
hori"ontal clamp (-) should not be touched again.
To take a measurement
$nlock the upper hori"ontal clamp (,). /otate the theodolite until the arrow in the
upper or lower rough sight points to the feature of interest and lock the clamp. <ook
through the main eyepiece (you may need to refocus) and use the upper hori"ontal
ad#uster to align the vertical lines on the feature. To take the reading, you should look
through the small eyepiece. $sing the minutes and seconds ad#uster (I) set the one of
8
.
.
. 8 88;
. 8 68;
7= 73
> | | >
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the degrees on the hori"ontal scale so the single vertical line on the bottom scale is
between the double vertical lines under the selected degree. The reading is the degree
you have aligned and the minutes and seconds read from the right hand scale and is
the hori"ontal angle (in degrees, minutes and seconds) from your reference line.
To measure a vertical angle, unlock the vertical clamp (') and tilt the eyepiece until
the feature is aligned on the hori"ontal lines. 'ently lock the clamp and use the
vertical ad#uster to make fine ad#ustments. 1ow looking through the small eyepiece,
use the minutes and seconds ad#uster (I) to align one of the degrees on the vertical
scale with the double lines #ust below it. The reading is the degree you have aligned
and the minutes and seconds read from the right hand scale. This is the angle from
the vertical? where vertical is 8 degrees.
To complete the reading, you may now need to measure the distance from the
theodolite to that feature.
To use the measurement.
9ften, your two measurements, an angle from your reference line and the distance
from the ob#ect have to be converted into ,astings and 1orthings. These are distances
,ast from the reference line and along (1orth) the reference line. 9nce you know
these, you can produce a scale drawing. If you get negative values you have to
change direction? for negative ,asting go 5est by that amount, for a negative
1orthing you have to go %outh. 2ou need to know 6 equations@A
,asting B sin(angle) times distance
1orthing B cos(angle) times distance
There are programmes available (on the 5!' web) site for doing these calculations.
They can also be done on hand held calculators, but beware some of these need the
degrees entered in radians. 2ou can easily check, sin(C=) B cos(C=) B 8.D8D.
If you have access to Turbocad, you can produce your scale drawing by entering the
degrees and distances directly and you dont need to do the calculations. This will
give you a set of lines radiating from a point. 2ou will need to #oin up the ends
appropriately to produce the final picture.